Frail patients were left sitting in their own faeces as they waited to be seen at an A&E for over 50 hours during an experience described as “degrading”.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) was told that patients at the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, Kent faced prolonged wait times with no access to wash facilities.
An inspection by the CQC at the beginning of last year rated the A&E department as "requires improvement" with the regulator issuing a warning notice for breaches of health and social care regulations.
It was rated “inadequate” for safety, but “good” for being well led.
The hospital was rated “inadequate” for safety, yet “good” for being well led
Medway Maritime Hospital
The chief executive of the Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Jayne Black, apologised to patients and claimed improvements had since been made.
A report published by CQC on Wednesday described extreme understaffing, with staff “crying on the phone for help” but “no one seemed to turn up”.
In a February 2024 visit, inspectors said the department "was not suitable for the number of people", with 14 patients in a resuscitation area designed for nine people, as well as 15 patients being treated in a corridor.
One patient had reportedly claimed they "had been left sitting in their own faeces all day because there was no one available to help".
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Another said they were left on a chair in the corridor for a shocking 55 hours.
Patients alleged that when they asked if they could shower, staff told them to splash themselves with water from the toilet sink.
Staff also told inspectors they feared threats for raising concerns, describing the work culture as “poor”.
Patients, as well as family members and staff had contacted the commission before their inspection to report “degrading experiences” suffered by patients.
One patient said they were left on a chair in the corridor for a shocking 55 hours (Stock Image)
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"Examples included frail patients who could not get up and take themselves to the toilet were left to soil themselves and left in soiled clothing and bedclothes for hours," said the CQC.
It was also reported that "frail, bed-bound patients had been told to soil themselves because there were not enough staff to take them to the toilet".
Commenting on the findings, Black said the Emergency Department had since made “significant improvements”, but recognised there was more that needed to be done.
She added: "Staff throughout the hospital continue to work tirelessly, together with our ambulance, community and social care partners, to reduce delays and improve care for all patients attending our Emergency Department."
Improvements highlighted included a new ward for patients with breathing and heart conditions as well as better waiting times.
